Internal-combustion turbine-engine.



W. ENGLES.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 27, 1018.

Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-$181131 1.

Z 0 w w m M m u t n 9 a u W. ENGLES.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAYZ'I,1913.

Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHEETBSHEBT Z.

WILLIS ENGLES,

OF PAW PAW, MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION TURBINE-ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIs ENGLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paw Paw, in the county of Van Baron and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in InternalCombustion Tur-.

' bine-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal COIDbllS-m tion turbine engines the object of the invention being to produce a simple reliable en gine oi the class described which is economical in construction and in consumption of fuel and in which the gas or mixture of gas and air is eiiiciently com ressed before being ignited and exploded, tie compressed gas, upon the explosion and during the expansion thereof being delivered to the vanes of the rotor and imparting rotary motion to the latter is will hereinafter appear.

(Vith the above and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken centrally through a motor embodying the present invention, the suction and compression piston being shown about midway of its stroke. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the ap proximate position of the arts at the time of ignition. Fig. 3 is an en arged longitudinal section through one end of the engine showing the worm, traveler and guides. Fig. 4 is a cross section on the linc4-ft of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the traveler.

The casing of the engine contemplated in this invention comprises a cylinder 1 and a rotor chamber 2, the same being in communication with each other by means of the reduced neck 3 at the inner end of the rotor casing 2. The rotor casing 2 is substantially frusto-conical in longitudinal section and round in cross section and is provided at its outer larger end with a reduced bearing sleeve 4 in which the outer end portion 5 of the rotor shaft is journalcd. The main body 6 of the rotor shaft extends axially through the cylinder 1 as shown and adjacent to the junction of the cylinder 1 and the rotor casing 2, said shaft is reduced as shown at 7 to form an annular gas port through which the expanding gas may pass from the cylinder 1 into the casing 2, when Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 27, 1913. Serial No. 770,187.

Patented July 28. 1914.

the compression abutment is shifted toward the rotor end of the cylinder 1 where said cylinder is closed by the head 8. The rotor 9 corresponds in shape to the casing 2, being generally conical while theouterlarger end thereof is rounded or of spherical section as indicated at 10; the outer end wall 11 of the casing 2 is correspondingly shaped. The dimensions of the rotor 9 and the casing '2 are so relatively proportioned as to leave an annular space 152 within the casing 2 and around the rotor 9 and also an end space 13 between the larger end 10 of the rotor and the end wall 11 of the rotor easing, said end wall 11 being provided with exhaust ports l i through which the expanding gas may escape to the atmosphere. The rotor 9 is provided on the outer side thereof with spirally disposed vanes 15 against which th expanding gas impinges and presses in its movement from the cylinder 1 to the exhaust ports at the opposite end of the rotor casing, thereby imparting rotary motion to the rotor and the shaft 6.

Working within the cylinder 1 is a disk shaped abutment 16 which is arranged near the head 8 of the cylinder and yieldingly held away from the same by means of compression springs 17 interposed between said abutment and cylinder head as shown. The abutment 16 surrounds the shaft (3 and has a central opening 18 therein closely approximating in size or outside diameter to the shaft 6. The abutment 16 normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 1 in which it cuts off communication between the compression and expansion chamber 19 of the cylinder 1 and the rotor casing. A slight movement, however, of the abutment 16 toward the head 8 will open up the gas port 7 above referred to and permit the expanding gas to pass into the rotor casing 2. i

20 designates a gas inlet port through which the mixture is admitted under pressure from a mixing valve or carburetor.

21 designates a suction and compression piston which is mounted to reciprocate in the cylinder 1. said piston surrounding and sliding on the shaft 6 which rotates therein. The piston 21 is non-rotating and has rigidly attached thereto a tubular piston rod 22 which closely surrounds the shaft (3 and cxtends rearwardly with a snug sliding fit through a central openii g 23 in the head 24.410

of the cylinder opposit the head 8.

The cylinder 1 is formed beyond the head spindle 27 on which is mounted fast a worm I the combustion chamber.

28 which rotates with the spindle 27 and the shaft 6. Upon the inside of the extension and at opposite sides of the spindle 27 are parallel guide ways each embodying two parallel grooves 29 and 30 which connect at their opposite ends, the guide ways extendi11 throughout the length of the worm 28.

A traveler 31 threaded upon its inner face as shown at 324s 'chm -ied by the tubular piston rod 22 and is mounted for movement toward and away from the worm 28 so that it may be thrown into and out of engagement with said worm. This is accomplished by providing the traveler 32 with oppositely projecting pins or trunnions. These pins in traveling in. the grooves 30 serve to hold the traveler in engagement with the worm 28 but in the return movement of the traveler, the pins 33 move along the grooves 29 and thereby hold said traveler out oil engagement with said worm. In the movement of the traveler toward the cylinder 1, the pins 33 strike against spring switches 3 which act on said pins to throw the traveler away from and out of engagement with the worm so that in the return movement oi the traveler the pins 33 traverse the grooves29 until the opposite ends of the grooves 29 are reached whereupon the pins 33 are free to be deflected inwardly again into the grooves 30.

35 designates a governor of the ball and.

ton rod 22 the piston 21 is forced towardthe abutment 16, thereby compressing the gas which has previously been trapped in Just before the traveler reaches the inner limit of its movement the compressed charge is ignited and expanded, displacing the abutment 16 and passing into the rotor chamber where it acts on the rotor. During the explosion, the piston is held against return movement by the traveler. As soon as the traveler 32 reaches the inner limit of its movement after an explosion takes place and is tripped, the Diston 21 is quickly drawn back by. the rarefaction of the air in the suction chamber 38 formed by the rear end of the cylinder 1.

During such return movement of the piston nioaaoo' ment 16 the expanded gas having been evipellod from between said parts. words, when the piston 21 is at the end of that stroke in which it approaches the abutment 16, the latter is forced toward the piston 21 by means of the spring 1? which closes the port '7 before the. piston 21 starts to move away from the abutment. Therefore, when the piston 21 is carri cdaway from the abutment 113, a fresh charge of explosive mixture is drawn into the explosion chamber 19 through the inlet 20 preparatory to compressing and firing the same as hereinabove described.

Any suitable ignition apparatus may be employed to ignite the gas in the combustion chamber and the ignition apparatus may be driven from the rotor shaft and properly timed to furnish the spark ust after the gas has been fully compressed between the memto the space between the abutment 16 and the cylinder head 8 as the abutment moves away from saidcylinder head, said valves being oi the usual check type. Furthermore, a check valve 10 may be pla. ed in the head 2% or the cylinder-to insure the retention of the necessary partial vacuum in the suction chamber 38,

l v'hat is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion turbine engine,

In other comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory piston working therein, a rotor provided with vanes, a rotor casing located at one end of said cyl nder and in communication with the combustion space thereof, a rotor shaft I carrying said rotor and extending through said piston, a displaceable compression abutment, automatically controlling said communication, and means actuated by said shaft for advancing said piston in its compression stroke.

internal combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory pisten working therein, a rotor provided with vanes, a cone shaped rotor casing located at one end of said cylinder and in communication with the combustion space thereof, a rotor shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said piston, a displaceable compression abutment, automatically controlling said communication, and means-actuated by said shaft for advancing said piston in its compression stroke.

3. An. internal combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, a r eciprocato piston working therein, a rotor provider with vanes, a rotor casing located at one end of said cylinder and in communication with the combustion space thereof, a rotor shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said piston, said shaft being provided with a circular gas port, a displaceable compression abutment, automatically controlling said communication, and means actuated by said shaft for advancing said piston in its compression stroke.

4. An internal combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, a rcciprocatory piston working therein, a rotor provided with vanes, a rotor casing located at one end of said cylinder andin communication with the combustion space thereof, a rotor shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said piston, a displaceable compression abutment, surrounding said shaft'and working at its periphery in contact with the cylinder wall automatically controlling said communication, and .means actuated by said shaft for advancing said piston in its compression stroke.

An internal combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, at reciprocatory pisten working therein, a rotor provided with vanes, a rotor casing located at one end of said cylinder and in communication with the combustion space thereof, a rotor shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said piston, a displaceable compression abutment automatically controlling said communication, a tubular piston rod extending from said piston throi'igh the cylinder head and embracing said shaft, and means for throwing said rod and shaft into and out of en- ,Q'agenieni' at opposite ends of the throw of the piston whereby said piston is advanced in its compression stroke by said shaft and released at the limit of said stroke.

(1.- An internal combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, a reciproaitory piston Working therein, a rotor provided with vanes, a rotor casing located at one end of said cylinder and in communication with the combustion space tliereof, a rotor shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said piston. a displaceablc compression abutment autmnatieally controlling said communication, a. tubular piston rod extending from said piston through'the cylinder head and cmbri'uring said shaft, and means for throwing said rod and shaft into and out of engagement at opposite ends of the throw of the piston whereby said piston is advanced in its compression stroke by said shaft and released at the limit of said stroke, the cylinder being closed-inrear of said piston to form a vacuum chamber for effecting the return movement or suction stroke of said piston.

I 7. An internal. combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, a rcciprocatory piston working therein, a rotor provided with vanes, a rotor casing located at one end of said cylinder and in communicationoviih the combustion space thereof, a rotor shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said piston, a displaceablc compression abutment automatically controlling said communication, a tubular piston rod extending from said piston through the cylinder head and embracing said shaft, means for throwing said rod and shaft into and out of engagement at opposite ends of the throw of the piston whereby said piston is advanced in its compression stroke by said shaft and released at the limit of said stroke, and a suction chamber for effecting the return movement or suction stroke of said piston.

8. An internal combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory piston working therein, a rotor provided with vanes, a rotor casing located at one end of the c linder and in communication with the combustion space thereof, a rotor shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said piston, a displaccablc compression abutment automatically controlling said communication, a. tubular piston rod extendin from said piston through the cylinder hea and embracing said shaft, means for throu iug said rod and shaft into and out of engagemcnt at opposite ends of the throw of the piston whereby said piston is advanced in its compression strokeby said shaft and released at the limit or said stroke, said means including aworm on the rotor shaft, and a threaded traveler carried by said piston rod.

9. An internal combustion turbine engine, comprising acylinder, a reciprocatory piston working therein, a rotor provided with varies, a rotor casing located at one end of the cylinder and in communication with the combustion space thereof, a rotor shaft carrying Said rotor and extending through said piston, a displaceablc compression abutment automatically controlling said communication, a tubular piston rod extending from said piston through the cylinder head and embracing said shaft, means for throwing said rod and shaft into and out of engagement at opposite ends of the throw of the piston whereby said piston is advanced in its compression stroke by said shaft and released at the limit of said stroke, said means including a worm on the motor shaft, a threaded traveler carried by said piston rod, and means for shifting said traveler into engagement with said worm at one end of the piston stroke and out of engagement therewith at the other end of the piston stroke.

10. An internal combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, 0. reciprocatory piston Working therein, a rotor provided with vanes, a rotor casing iocated at one end of the cylinder and-in communication with the combustion space thereof, a .notor shaft carrying said rotor and extending through said piston, a displaceahle compression abutment automatically controlling said communication, a tubular piston rod extending from said piston through the cylinder head and embracing said shaft, means for throwing said rod and shaft into and out of engagement at opposite ends of the throw of the piston whereby said piston is advanced in its compression stroke by ,said' shaft and released at the limit of said stroke, said means including a Worm on the rotor shaft, a threaded traveler carried by said piston rod, and guides along which said traveler moves acting; to hold. the traveler against the-Worm While moving in the opposite direction.

11. An internal combustion turbine engine, comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory piston Working therein, a rotor rovided with vanes, a rotor casing locate at one end of the cylinder and in communication with the combustion space thereof, a rotorr mos-sees advanced in its compression stroke by said shaft and released at the limit of said stroke, said means including a Worm on the rotor shaft, a threaded traveles carried by said piston rod, guides along which said traveler moves acting to hold the traveler against the Worm While moving in one direction and ed the Worm While moving in the opposite direction, and a governor acting to shift the traveler against-said worse as the speed of the rotor shaft decreases.

In testimony whereof l: aflizs my signatute in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIS E li Witnesses 2 GAEL H. Cameroons, Hens Evan Emeline. 

